The Path to Cerro Lóbrego

Across the entire network of paths in Cabra, few names carry as many connotations as the path that forms the basis of this route. Time will keep the secret of this name, though it does allow us to speculate on the reason behind this unique place name. Cerro Lóbrego is a rounded, limestone hill whose slopes resemble an elephant’s back, with steep inclines on the ascent and a blunt summit, devoid of any striking geographical features. Indeed, it lacks even any significant vegetation. Far from being a dark and gloomy place, as one might infer from its name, it is what we would commonly call a bare mountain range, at the mercy of the winds and the sun. This is surely the origin of the place name, stemming from the apparent desolation, sadness and, in a way, fear, evoked by such bare and desolate landscapes. However, nothing could be further from the truth: this seemingly inhospitable mountain enclave holds far more treasures than meet the eye. Its surface is an extensive karst landscape carved by the ceaseless flow of rainwater, dotted with numerous fossil remains of Jurassic marine animals and sheltering, amongst the rocky outcrops and crevices, interesting species of flora. Numerous orchids, appearing fleetingly in a burst of spring life, carpet the ground with bee orchids and Venus’s mirrors, whilst isolated peonies bear witness to the absence of the holm oak woodland that once covered these slopes and of which only a few isolated, centuries-old specimens remain. This route, therefore, aims to highlight the importance of places such as this, an apparently barren wasteland earmarked for conversion into aggregate or building material by the nearby quarry – a place so forgotten that even the existence of the path running through it has been lost, left to fall into oblivion and awaiting reclamation for use. From here, the route offers us the opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful, unique and little-known spots in the municipality of Cabra. At the foot of the hill of nodular limestone on which the Cortijo de la Parrilla stands, lies the spring of the same name and the source of the Alamedal stream, also known as the Losilla, which forms a small waterfall at this point. The presence of water and the preservation of the natural native vegetation, with no tracks allowing access by motor vehicles and situated away from the main roads in the area, has allowed for the conservation of a landscape of great scenic value, where in days gone by livestock from all the surrounding farmsteads would come to drink. From here, the centuries-old holm oaks dotting the Gaena hills, the Losilla farmhouse and the area known as the Valley of the Fossils complete the picture, providing more than enough reason to follow this semi-circular route.